401k Contribution Calculator
A 401k contribution calculator shows what the percentage you put in each paycheck becomes by retirement: your contributions, your employer’s match, and the growth on both. The free 401(k) calculator above does that for any contribution rate, and this page compares 5%, 10% and 15% on the default example — a 35-year-old with a $25,000 balance and a $75,000 salary — with the 2026 IRS limits and the cap.
At 10%, your contribution is $7,500.00 in year one, the employer match is $2,250.00, and the balance at 65 is $1,400,662.80. At 5%, the balance is $888,588.93. At 15%, it is $1,866,184.50. The tables below show the full trade-off, the limits that cap high earners, and the match formulas that decide how much free money you get.
How 401(k) Contributions Work
Your contribution is a percentage of your salary, taken out of each paycheck before federal income tax. It lowers your taxable income, so it also lowers your tax bill: at a 22% marginal rate, each $1,000 of contribution saves $220 of federal tax. The contribution is capped at the IRS limit for your age. Your employer may match part of it, usually a percentage of your pay up to a percentage of your salary. The money grows tax-deferred until you withdraw it in retirement.
On the default example — age 35, $25,000 balance, $75,000 salary, 10% contribution, 50% match of the first 6%, 7% return, 2% salary growth, no fee — your contribution is $7,500.00 in year one and $304,260.59 over 30 years. The employer match is $2,250.00 in year one and $91,278.18 over 30 years. Total contributions are $395,538.77, investment growth is $980,124.02, and the balance at 65 is $1,400,662.80.
Step 1 — Pick the contribution rate
The rate is a percentage of your salary. On a $75,000 salary, 5% is $3,750.00 a year, 10% is $7,500.00, and 15% is $11,250.00. The salary grows 2% a year, so the contribution grows with it.
Step 2 — Add the employer match
The match is 50% of the first 6% of pay on the default: 3% of your salary, or $2,250.00 in year one. At a 5% contribution, the match is only $1,875.00 in year one, because 50% of 5% is 2.5% of salary.
Step 3 — Check the cap
The 2026 employee limit is $24,500 under age 50. If your rate times your salary is above the limit, the calculator caps the contribution and tells you. On a $200,000 salary at 15%, the contribution is capped at $24,500 in year one.
Worked Examples: 5%, 10% and 15% Compared
Each row is the default example — age 35, $25,000 balance, $75,000 salary, 50% match of the first 6% — run at a different contribution rate.
| Contribution rate | Year-1 total (you + match) | Your total contributions | Employer match total | Balance at 65 | 4% rule income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% | $5,625.00 | $152,130.30 | $76,065.15 | $888,588.93 | $2,961.96 / month |
| 10% | $9,750.00 | $304,260.59 | $91,278.18 | $1,400,662.80 | $4,668.88 / month |
| 15% | $13,500.00 | $456,390.89 | $91,278.18 | $1,866,184.50 | $6,220.61 / month |
Raising the contribution from 5% to 15% adds $319,473.62 of your own money over 30 years — $456,390.89 minus $152,130.30 — and the balance at 65 rises by $977,595.57, from $888,588.93 to $1,866,184.50. The extra $658,121.95 is investment growth on the extra contributions. The employer match is maxed out at 10% and 15%, both $91,278.18 over 30 years, because the match is capped at 50% of the first 6% of pay. At 5%, the match is lower — $76,065.15 — because 50% of a 5% contribution is only 2.5% of salary. The milestone table shows $139,238.18 at the age-45 milestone on the 5% row and $265,321.32 on the 15% row.
How to Use the 401k Contribution Calculator
Start with the numbers on your pay stub and your plan statement. The contribution rate is the input you control most directly.
- Enter your current age. The default is 35. The age sets the IRS contribution limit.
- Enter your current 401(k) balance. The default is $25,000.
- Enter your annual salary. The default is $75,000.
- Enter your contribution percentage. The default is 10%. Try 5% and 15% too, and compare the balances at 65.
- Pick the employer match. The default is 50% of the first 6% of pay. Pick the formula your employer actually offers.
- Enter the expected return, salary growth, fees, and inflation. The defaults are a 7% return, 2% salary growth, no fee, and 3% inflation.
- Read the balance at 65. The big number is the projected balance; the table shows the contributions, the growth, the 4% rule income, and the balance in today’s dollars.
The result updates as you type. Try raising the contribution from 10% to 15% and watch the balance at 65 rise from $1,400,662.80 to $1,866,184.50 — a gain of $465,521.70 for an extra 5% of salary, or $3,750.00 a year in year one.
The 2026 Contribution Limits
The IRS sets the limits each year. The table below shows the 2026 limits, and the catch-up amounts that apply at older ages.
| Age | Employee limit | Catch-up over the base limit | Combined employee + employer limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | $24,500 | $0 | $72,000 |
| 50 and older | $32,500 | $8,000 | $72,000 |
| 60 to 63 | $35,750 | $11,250 | $72,000 |
The catch-up limit is $8,000 at age 50 or older, and $11,250 at ages 60 to 63 — a higher catch-up that applies only in those four years. The combined limit of $72,000 covers your contributions plus your employer’s match and any other employer contributions. A 15% contribution on a $75,000 salary is $11,250 a year, well under the $24,500 limit, so the cap never applies on the default. It only bites on high salaries, as the example below shows.
Common Contribution Mistakes
Most contribution mistakes are about the wrong rate or the wrong limit.
- Contributing less than the full match. The match is free money. At a 5% contribution, the match is $76,065.15 over 30 years; at 10% it is $91,278.18. The missing $15,213.03 is money you gave up.
- Forgetting the cap. A 15% contribution on a $200,000 salary is $30,000 a year, but the limit is $24,500. The calculator caps it and tells you.
- Ignoring the tax saving. A 10% contribution on $75,000 is $7,500 a year, but at a 22% marginal rate it saves $1,650 of federal tax, so the take-home pay falls by less than $7,500.
- Setting the rate once and forgetting it. Raise the rate by 1% each year, or when you get a raise, and the balance grows a lot for money you never miss.
- Confusing Roth and traditional. A traditional 401(k) contribution is pre-tax and lowers this year’s tax. A Roth 401(k) contribution is after tax, so it does not lower this year’s tax, but the money comes out tax-free in retirement. Both share the same $24,500 cap.
- Cashing out when changing jobs. Taking $10,000 out before age 59 and a half at a 22% tax rate costs $2,200 of tax plus a $1,000 penalty, leaving $6,800.
Where Contribution Choices Matter
The contribution rate is the input you control most directly, and the situations below are where it matters most.
- A new job. Set the rate high enough to get the full match on day one — the match is free money from the first paycheck.
- A raise. Put half the raise into the 401(k) and the balance grows a lot for money you never had in your budget.
- High earners. A 15% contribution on a $200,000 salary is capped at $24,500 in year one, so the rate stops mattering above the cap.
- Near retirement. At ages 60 to 63, the limit is $35,750, so you can put in an extra $11,250 a year over the base limit.
- Tax planning. Each $1,000 of traditional contribution saves $220 of federal tax at a 22% marginal rate.
Tips for Accurate Results
Five habits keep the contribution projection honest and useful.
- Use your real match formula. The default is 50% of the first 6%, but your employer’s formula may be different, and it changes the balance a lot.
- Check the cap note. If the calculator says your contribution was capped, your rate is above the limit and raising it further changes nothing.
- Try 1% more. Raising the rate from 10% to 11% on $75,000 is $750 a year, and the balance at 65 rises by about a tenth of the gap to 15%.
- Remember the tax saving. The take-home pay cost of a contribution is less than the contribution itself, because the tax falls too.
- Check the today’s-dollars figure. The balance at 65 is $1,400,662.80 in future dollars, but only $577,054.53 in today’s dollars at 3% inflation.
Contribution Quick Answers
The figures people look up most often about 401(k) contributions.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Balance at 65 at a 10% contribution | $1,400,662.80 |
| Balance at 65 at a 15% contribution | $1,866,184.50 |
| 2026 employee limit under 50 | $24,500 |
| 2026 employee limit at 50 or older | $32,500 |
| 2026 employee limit at ages 60 to 63 | $35,750 |
Related tools on this site: the main 401(k) calculator, the paycheck calculator for what a higher contribution does to take-home pay, the compound interest calculator for the growth maths, and the salary calculator for converting pay. The IRS publishes the 2026 limits in IR-2025-111.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum, contribute enough to get the full employer match — that is free money. Beyond that, 10% to 15% of salary is a common target. On a $75,000 salary, 10% gives $1,400,662.80 at 65 and 15% gives $1,866,184.50.
What is the maximum 401(k) contribution for 2026?
The employee limit is $24,500 under age 50, $32,500 at age 50 or older, and $35,750 at ages 60 to 63. The combined employee-plus-employer limit is $72,000.
What happens if I contribute more than the limit?
The calculator caps the contribution at the limit and tells you. In a real plan, the excess is returned to you, and you pay tax on it. A 15% contribution on a $200,000 salary is capped at $24,500 in year one.
Does a 401(k) contribution lower my tax?
A traditional 401(k) contribution lowers your federal taxable income, so it saves tax at your marginal rate: $1,650 a year on a $7,500 contribution at 22%. A Roth 401(k) contribution does not lower this year’s tax.
How much is a 15% contribution on a $200,000 salary?
Fifteen percent of $200,000 is $30,000 a year, but the 2026 limit is $24,500, so the contribution is capped at $24,500 in year one. With the $6,000 match, the year-one total is $30,500, and the balance at 65 is $3,643,055.73.
Disclaimer: This calculator gives a projection for general information only and is not financial advice. Investment returns are not guaranteed, tax rules change, and your real balance will differ. Talk to a financial adviser for your situation.